Ford recommends BP gasoline

[Aurora40]

The second tradition-breaking example of strange bedfellows in Autodom involves Ford Motor Company and BP, the British petroleum company. All 2006 Ford Division models will have special gas caps that say: "Ford recommends BP." Curiously, Lincoln Mercury models spewing forth from the same assembly lines will not have the unique gas caps. According to Ford's announcement, "This is the first time in the United States a major auto manufacturer has recommended an energy company's fuels." However, Chevrolet has recommended Mobil 1 synthetic oil for Corvette models for some years.

Despite decades-long and persistent - but totally illogical and false - urban legends of collusion between auto and oil companies supposedly to hold back fuel economy advances, active cooperation between the two industries has been limited pretty much to technical exchanges in bodies like the Society of Automotive Engineers and testing of oil company products for compatibility or acceptability with vehicles.

Ford said that joint efforts for the Ford/BP filler cap in Europe "have been very successful," paving the way for the launch in America . Part of the deal is that BP will be primary supplier of fuel for the initial fill of all Ford (and presumably Lincoln Mercury) vehicles as they come off assembly lines. The two companies anticipate joint promotions between Ford dealerships and BP retail stations in the future.

Already, relations between the two companies have produced some joint efforts in the U. S. For example, BP retail locations promoted "Win Free Gas for a Year," featuring display of Ford F-150 trucks. And Ford research with hydrogen-powered Focus Fuel Cell vehicles has led to demonstration cars in Michigan, California, and Florida with BP planning to build hydrogen fueling stations to support them.

In recent years, British Petroleum merged with or acquired the Atlantic Refining (ARCO) and Standard Oil of Indiana (AMOCO) companies and appears to be re-branding all as BP. In several moves during the 1970s and 1980s, BP had taken over Standard Oil of Ohio (SOHIO).

It will be interesting to see if other international petroleum companies line up similar deals with the other major auto manufacturers. -Mike Davis

From: www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?DID=RSS&n=173&sid=173&article=9277

I actually get BP/Amoco Ultimate for the Corvette. I can't get any better than 93 octane around here, but Amoco Ultimate supposedly has a lot of additives and such. The only problem is it seems like every time I go there, some chucko spilled oil on the ground and I end up driving through it.

[macadamiaman]

It's a stupid suggestion, and will probably be a lot less successful here - simply because they're putting the caps on Fords, and not Lincoln or Mercury... though I've known a surprising amount of people that do not realize they're the exact same car underneath, and I suppose if you're stupid enough to buy BP fuel just because your gas cap recommends it... sigh...

I'm still waiting for cars to be sold with advertisements on them for a discount - it's coming soon I'm sure! (I have seen it, but not widespread, and only third-party)

[95mushroom]

Yea, they have that third-party stuff back home. They pay you around 200-400 dollars per month, depending on what type of car you have/how many miles you drive per day/etc, to put a sign on your door (each side). Not bad, especially for someone that drives a lot, like say they have a long trip to and from work. We were never interested, but its out there.

BTW, doesn't the Viper and M3 recommend Mobil 1 synthetic too?

[Letitroll98]

Of course it's ridiculous. BP is no more fit for any engine than any other gasoline. It's a commodity!

If anyone here actually wants to know the origins of the oil industry including BP, Standard Oil (the Rockefeller's), or why Ford would be linked with BP, a must read is Daniel Yergin's "The Prize". It's a rather lengthy narrative history of 788 pages with another 100 or so of reference documentation, but the work reveals why we are at war in Iraq and in fact, indirectly explains how the present world order is directly related to and almost solely driven by oil.